We got a huge storm that came through my little neck of the woods the other day. If any of you have been having the heat and humidity we have, you know a storm is a welcome thing. There's no better day to snuggle down, pray the power holds and give the DVD player a good workout. So with the thunder and lightning lending plenty of ambiance, I grabbed MTI's latest offering- Cup Of My Blood. I am very happy to say that I'm now adding a new favorite to my collection.

Jack Fender's (Daniel Patrick Sullivan) life seems to have taken a strange turn. This is not to say that his life wasn't a little strange to begin with. As a pornographer he has seen his fair share of odd sites and unusual people. When a dying woman with a cryptic message crashes her car in front of him it seems reality itself will never be the same again. The dying woman calls Jack by name and tells him to take the box from the back seat. She tells him that he is the chosen protector of the object in the box. She lso tells him to never let anyone take the box from him; never look at it; and after begging him to run, she dies.

Jack is pretty sure she's got the wrong guy for this job. His haunted and checkered past has left him with little to no faith and more than his fair share of personal demons. So what can he do but take the box home and immediately open it! From the minute Jack lays eyes on the contents of the box, the world around him shifts even further and he can no longer tell who he can trust. The box in question happens to hold a holy and powerful relic. In fact the very people who he had worked with and trusted for years seem to have been waiting for this box to fall into his hands for a very long time as the contents are none other than the all powerful Holy Grail. As the clock ticks on and the body count grows higher, Jack will have to face his past, find his faith and most of all; he'll have to survive to ready the world for the second coming.

This movie comes to me at a time where it seems I can't switch a channel with out finding a documentary full of the latest ideas and findings concerning Christian mythology. The biggest is the ever-popular quest for the Holy Grail and it's no wonder with the publication of Dan Brown's best selling book the Davinci Code. Historians and theologians alike are all weighing in on the subject. It seems fitting that Lance Catania, writer and director of Cup Of My Blood gets a shot as well. Though I doubt very much that the Catholic Church will appreciate his vision nearly as much as I did.

Really, what's not to apprieciate! Lance Catania, who also wore the director of photography hat in this movie as well, has an excellent eye for detail and subtle contrast. This film has a wonderful muted and gothic look that I've also admired in films like Frailty and Seven. It's a great look for conveying a feeling of expectation and lends an emotional edge that wakes my imagination. It's also a very flattering look for just about any environment that I've ever seen it in. In Cup Of My Blood, this technique transforms cluttered office spaces into places with the air of conspiracy and great secrets and turns the iron arches of a bridge support into something that looks as though it belongs some place sacred. It also went a long way to giving the slower and quieter scenes a feeling of movement and thoughtfulness that they would not have had otherwise.

There is also a decadence and sensuality to Cup Of My Blood that I really loved. Starting with the erotic art photography that I found stunning. The subjects where beautifully rendered and black and white and can be seen all through various scenes in the movie. There are also quite a few scenes depicting Jack's memories of photo shoots from before he started in the porn industry. There are quite a few places where the slightly less elegant pornographic photography and the art photography share scenes. The contrast between the two mediums gives the movie as a whole a feeling that there are two opposing forces at work here. Then throw in a little kink and a whole lot of blasphemy for good measure and you end up with one of the best erotic thrillers I've seen in a long time. From the minute these elements are introduced, the movie carries an undercurrent of sexual tension that really compliments the story line. The subtle mix of horror and eroticism is a favorite of mine but unfortunately I think it's very hard to convey on film. It's a treat to see it done so well.

Cup Of My Blood will be available by the 30th of August. Special Features will include audio commentary, deleted scenes and behind the scenes footage. Regrettably, my copy was for screening purposes, so you'll get no juicy tidbit from me on the subject. The aspect ratio of the film is 16:9 anamorphic widescreen and will include an option for Spanish subtitles. I also want to take minute to give some attention to the special effects crew for this movie. The attention to detail and the artistry will have you wondering what kind of budget they were working with but this movie was produced on a very tight budget. You would never know it.

I can't remember the last time I was this taken with a movie from our beloved Head Vampire. This movie is so full of detail and twists and turns that I could probably write pages and still neglect scenes and aspects worth pointing out. I think it's safe to say that Cup Of My Blood is a film full of little surprises that I look forward to revisiting. Here's the movies website if you'd like to take a sneak peak before the release date! www.cupofmyblood.com